Nalzaro: Getting a scolding

Sunday, February 12, 2012

JUST recently, a group of deans and professors from the University of the Philippines visited the Capitol upon the invitation of Gov. Gwen Garcia. They thought they were invited to a party or for a dialogue on how to operate the Cebu Performing Arts (CPA) building, which is inside the UP Visayas campus in Lahug. The building, which was constructed using Capitol funds during the administration of former governor Vicente “Tingting” de la Serna, was supposed to be a student dormitory. However, the building stood empty for several years until last year, when Garcia’s administration renovated it to be used as a theater. Since then it has hosted several local and international events.

But the deans and professors were shocked when the governor scolded them for reportedly opposing her decision to uproot an electric post in front of the CPA building. According to my source, the governor wanted to uproot the electric post because it blocks the building’s facade. She asked the Visayan Electric Company (Veco) to do it, but the utility firm did not comply with her request because the UP administration opposed the move.

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The source said there was an unidentified dean who walked out during the meeting. The governor then allegedly shouted at her staff: “Get her name because I will sue her.”

Hoyhoy tawon ang mga abaga sa taga UP sa dihang nanggawas sila sa Capitol.

Well, this is not the first time the governor displayed her temper before visitors and in public. If you recall, another UP professor and The Freeman columnist, Dr. Cherry Ballescas, experienced the same humiliation in public.

Ballescas, who was involved in the Regional Development Council (RDC) matters, had raised some questions about the priorities of the governor during an RDC meeting at the Capitol. Gwen then chaired the RDC 7. In front of other RDC members and media people covering the meeting, Gwen scolded Ballescas like she was scolding her house help. Humiliated, the poor UP professor just calmly walked out. You see the real attitude and character of our beloved lady governor? Ask the people close to her or working with her and they will tell you who Gwen Garcia is.

Look what happened to lawyer Rory Jon Sepulveda. He has not been seen at the Capitol. I received information that Jong has already resigned as a consultant and a spokesman for the Province. Jong was allegedly a “recipient” of several hard objects which the governor allegedly threw at him whenever her temper flared. Only those lapdogs or “sipsips” like public information officer Sam Costanilla “survive” Gwen’s wrath.

I had a face to face conversation with Gwen in the past and I found her very nice. In fact, she was so sweet. But the moment she loses her temper, that’s another matter.

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You see, Gwen has started going around the country. Over the weekend, she was a guest speaker in a tourism forum in Palawan. I have learned she will be going to Mindanao for a sister-province agreement with another provincial government. The Capitol’s Sugbo TV will be beamed nationwide. She will be playing an important role in a proposed movie project about the life of Blessed Pedro Calungsod, which will be produced by Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos. Is she preparing to run for the Senate? Or is she just testing the water, so to speak?

If she thinks she can do it, physically and financially, why not? We need a Cebuano senator and Gwen is highly qualified. She speaks fluent English and she is very articulate. She and Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago can be of the same caliber. Pero asa man siya ug igasto anang iyang suroy-suroy sa Pilipinas? Iyang kaugalingong kuwarta o kuwarta sa mga magbubuhis sa lalawigan?

(bobby.nalzaro@yahoo.com)